They cross the line again and again, glorify trivial issues, create unnecessary hype, and yet go scot free.

While the ruckus created by the national media during the 26/11 rescue operations is still afresh, I am shocked at the way Telugu news channels are vying with each other to package and broadcast updates on the Telangana agitation over the past one month.

Meaningless debates between pro- and anti-Telangana leaders, clips of provocative speeches of peanut leaders, and ghastly scenes of violence accompanied by background score have been the order of the day for these channels.

The news reporters along with their cameramen seem to be omnipresent, ready to capture every movement. Gasping and panting they run behind protesters, interview them as though their opinion of national importance. They provoke, harass and pose questions with ulterior motives aimed at making the respondent utter something sensational.

Then we have the reporter reciting everything that we saw and heard to the news reader squatting in the studio. The communication that happens between the reporter and the reader is loud and miserable. On the lighter side, these conversations have been spoofed hilariously in many films.

For all such strenuous efforts, should the news channels receive a pat on their back? Of course, they deserve something on their back, but certainly not a pat.